Brunch, Happy Hour and A Date: Birmingham, Alabama
The National Association of Black Journalists took their talents to Magic City this summer. Meanwhile, I got in touch with a Frothy Monkey.
Brunch, Happy Hour and A Date is a recurring series where I journal the locales I visit in a particular city. I chose the three functions because they are a specific type of experience that you can likely relate to, and they can help you plan accordingly should you ever visit.
This time, my travels took me to Birmingham for the National Association of Black Journalists’ annual conference and convention. NABJ’s yearly summertime classic is like taking your favorite black fraternity and sorority’s annual conference, remixing it with EssenceFest and blending it with shows like The View, Around The Horn and Good Morning America.
While being a panelist, recruiting the next Robin Roberts or Ralph Wiley and reconnecting with the homies…here are a few places I’d encourage you to go in Bham. If you have some areas you vouch for in Magic City — PLEASE — drop them in the comments. Thank you.
Brunch: Frothy Monkey, Downtown
When in doubt, ask a local.
It was early on Friday morning, and I had some time before it was time to get back in the mix at the conference. I didn’t want hotel food. I also didn’t want that Starbucks combo of vanilla latte and overcooked breakfast sandwich. I needed a meal to be adequately fueled for shaking hands and kissing babies at the recruiting booth.
“Go to the Frothy Monkey,” proclaimed Corrinne, my hotel’s concierge. “It’s my jam.”
How are you going to argue with someone’s jam? Not I.
As for what you should order:
To drink: Turtle Latte — I’ve had lattes named this before, but theirs was more decadent. On top of the espresso and steamed milk combo’d with chocolate and caramel syrup, they add a nutty pecan syrup as well. I’m a caffeine fiend, so I like something I could drink twice in a day. This felt more like dessert — I like dessert too.
To eat: Loaded Biscuits and Chorizo Gravy — Holy shit, Batman. I did not need another meal after this until dinner. Hefty and savory. This was an easy choice.
To eat: Vanilla bean cream custard — I only observed this dessert as a stranger in a houndstooth Alabama hat nibbled on while reading the paper and sipping coffee. He looked at peace, and I was happy for him. (Until Oklahoma joins the SEC, then it’s beef with ‘Bama.)
Happy Hour: The Collins Bar, Downtown
Ah, my favorite type of bar. A cocktail bar with no cocktails on the menu.
As for what you should order:
To drink: Ask for the best old fashioned they can make. This amounts to a bit of a personal challenge for bartenders worth a damn. My bartender was undoubtedly worth a damn. My guess? Bourbon and rum, with a brown sugar simple syrup and a type of bitters I can’t quite place. Really good.
To eat: The chili dog — Not every culinary choice needs to be five stars and Michelin-inspired. A perfect hot dog with the fixins always works.
Dinner: Michael’s Steaks and Seafood, Southside
Take the time to go to Michael's. Why? Because it’s connected to the Negro Southern League Museum, which highlights the history of black baseball from the Negro Leagues to the modern era from the lens of Birmingham. Also why? Because Bar Sebastian is a rooftop lounge that overlooks Regions Field, home of the Birmingham Barons. Take you and the homies out to the ballgame — along with dinner, drinks and a great view. One time to the D9.
As for what you should order:
To drink: Southern Summertime Peach Tea (at Bar Sebastian) — Listen, drink sweet tea in the South. It’s just what you do. When they add bourbon, peach puree and brewed sweet tea into a delectable combination, you drink it.
To eat: Salmon Rockefeller — The “Rockefeller” means that your dish is topped with a spread of lemons, spinach, cheese, and any other secrets from the chef. Put this stuff on everything; it’s divine.
To eat: Bread Pudding — I only regret not ordering two.
Let me know if this is something you’d like to see more of in other cities around the country and the globe. Also, if you have any recommendations I missed, please drop them in the comments section!
I'm absolutely here for more of this series.
Loved this post in particular, as my family's from Bham and it just reminded me of how long it's been since I popped down there for a visit. Great post, Ed!